Holder for character-carrying elements for composing machines



Aug- 28, 1951 y F. F. SIMMQNS 2,565,934

HOLDER FOR CHARACTER CARRYING ELEMENTS FOR COMPOSING MACHINES Filed Feb. 23! 1949 Patented Aug. 28, 1951 UNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICE 25565,934 LDEYRJFOR'CHARACTEWCARRYING tn- 'MEN'rs 'Fon ooMPosrNG- simiorunasv Frederick F. Simmons, Merriam, Kans'.

Assiieatioii retriiry 2s, igia'stiisi No. '77;45

2 Claims.

invention relates lto 'character-carrying elements for composing machines. More partiularly, my invention relates to a holder for 'a `plurality of such elements whereby they may be simultaneously treated to provide a dark backl"ground for the identifying symbol for each element, whereby to achieve a structure analogous to that disclosed in the patent to Percy L. Hill, usted March 10, 1931, Potent Noijsoozs. 'The character-carrying elements aforesaid may be treated in a variety of ways for achieving a darkbackground vfor the individual identifying symbols, and it is obviously advantageous to treat 'a plurality of such elements simultaneously to provide's'uch a background.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object-of my invention to provide an improved holder and/or carrier for holding a plurality of characterucarrying elements for simultaneous treatnient to provide such a dark or contrasting back- "ground `for Athe 4ider'itifying symbols thereof.

A further object is to provide a holder for the purpose aforesaid which comprises a hollow container having an open bottom b ut beingclosed at the sides, ends and top, said container including 'means vfor clamping a plurality of character-carrying elenientstherein in iacehto-f'ace relation, the portions of said elements tojbeeolored being 'exposed to said open bottom of said container, and means for detachablyconnecting a carrying handle to said container for 'oarrying the Same with the top wan thereof apremios' A further object is to provide in a container such as that last described 'a strip for partially 'closing vsaid open-bottoni loi` said container, and means for rigidly and readily detachably connecting said strip across said open bottom of said eontainer 'to-partially close the same.

@ther objects landadvantages reside in the particular strutture :ofthe invention, the structure of the several velements thereof, combinations and sub-'combinations of such elements, -all of which will be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art upon reference tothe atta'clied draw- 'castinga character, 'such as the letter Figure 5 is 'a fragmentary perspective view of 'the invention;

Figure '6 fis Va perspective view 'of one of Ythe eha'raoter-"carrying elements adapted to be 'carried by the holder according to the invention.

'Referring speoileally to the drawing, wherein like referentie characters have been used 'throughout the Several iiews to designate like Sparte, andreferring at rst'to Figures `5 ando, `I

designates generally one; 'or more `cliara'cter=oar ryiri'geleinents =with which the holder according to the invention 'S adapted t0 be utilized. Thus, :the 'eharacter-carryingelement Iii is ladapted to be used with a composing machine, such as a I'iinoty'p'e machine, for the formation `of lines of type. Thus, oneedge of each'element I0 may be formed with 'arece'ss l I 'formed with a matrix for t An te edge of "such element Ill ie customarily pressed with a like character 'I3 for identify'- "the particular matriir II. As taught in such paA nt aforesaid, the impressed -character I3 is 'hard "to 'see 'with the naked eye, whereby the yedge I2 of the element 'is 'colored Va contrastingT color Fand the identifying symbol I3 is thereafter likewise `colored with a different contrasting color,

so as to cause the symbol I3 to stand out. As so :Ear described, the structure is conventional and forros no part of my invention.

of being used for simultaneously coloring the edge surfaces I2 'ci a plurality of elements iii simultaneously by a wide variety of of processes and/ormethods.

Referring vnow to Figures f1 to 5, inclusive, the

holder 'acor'dihg to the invention comprises a hollow rectangularKcontainerA generally indicated at I4 and includes imper'forate top wail and a pair'of 'imperforats opposes eno walls ii ariel 'I'B "which, 'as shown, are preferably siibstaiiu tiaiiy thicker than trie side and top walls aforesaid. The "end wail 'm fis 'formed with an' 'interq irony-'threaded bore is therethrough-iii w-niehis rotatably supported aflongitudinally extending vnc'iiolin.ig element 'or serew l2u, the jfree inner end ofwni'ch is adapte 'to extend inwardly of the @ont trier r4 tojoiampiiieiy engage o piiiraiity of recarryine elements VlI so as to clamp y ei'ii'the container with rthe edges u2 sposed through the operi bottom of the container.

The outer end of the screw 20 projects beyond the end wall I8, the projecting end being provided with a, hand actuable means 20'. As clearly seen in Figure 5, the interior dimensions of the container III are such as to have a close fit with a plurality of such elements I when the same are clamped therein in face-to-face relation.

When the container I4 is filled with a plurality of elements III, it is obvious substantially heavy, whereby I have provided means for conveniently transporting the same from place to place. Preferably, the end walls I'I and I8 are formed with means adapted for readily detachably engaging the carrying handle spanning the top wall I5 in upwardly-spaced relation thereto, whereby the container may be transported with the top wall I5 uppermost. In the embodiment illustrated, the end walls I'I and I8 are each formed with an upwardly-directed extension 2I or 22, each of which is formed with an aligned aperture 23. In eiect, the extensions 2I and 22 provide bail ears. A carrying handle now to be described is adapted to be readily detachably connected to the bail-ear-providing extensions 2l and 22.

In the embodiment illustrated, the carrying handle comprises an elongated straight rod 24 which is slidably and pivotally seated in the aligned apertures 23 so as to provide opposite ends extending oppositely outwardly of the end walls I1 and I8. The rod 24 has a free end 25. The other end of the rod 24 is preferably upwardly directed, as at 26, and then reversely directed to provide an upper rod handle 2'! extending lengthwise of the top wall I5 of the container in upwardly-spaced relation thereto. The rod 2'! comprises the carrying handle or bail for the device. The handle portion 2l' has a free end which is downwardly directed, as at 28, and terminates in an upwardly-directed hook 29 adapted to be detachably engaged with the free end 25 of the rod 24 to anchor the free end of the handle 21.

As so far described, it is obvious that the holder provides a convenient holder and/or carrier for a plurality of the character-carrying elements I0, wherein the edge surfaces I2 are exposed for treatment. Thus, in some methods or processes for coloring or darkening the edges I2, it is desirable to buff or otherwise clean such surfaces prior to treatment. With the surfaces I2 exposed through the open bottom *of the container, it is a simple matter to buff or clean a large number of such surfaces substantially simultaneously. Likewise, where the coloring or darkening processes used embody coating or dipping of such surfaces I2 with or in chemical solutions, the particular container or carrier is adapted for this purpose. Thus, if th-e coloring is to be accomplished by coating, the container may be readily turned on its side, or stood on one end, while the coating step is being carried out. Likewise, if the process involves dipping in a container of chemicals, it is a simple matter to simply set the container with the open bottom downward in the pan or other chemical container. Where the pan is shallow, the top of the container and the carrying handle 21 are exposed, whereby the device may be readily placed therein and removed therefrom. However, at times, it may be desirable to partially close the open bottom of the container. Also, in certain processes for coating the surfaces I2, it may be necessary to plate such surfaces with copper or other metal and in such processes itis desirable to locate a strip of material utilized in the plating steps in near-adjacent relation to'V th-e surfaces I2. Thus, in copper plating by electricity, it would be desirable to mount the electrode of plating material closely adjacent the surfaces I2. Likewise, in non-electrical plating methods, it may be desirable to mount a metallic strip, not necessarily of plating material, in a similar position.

With the foregoing in view, means have been provided for mounting a strip of material across the open bottom of the container so as to partially close the same and locate the strip in adjacent relation to the surfaces I2 of the elements in the container. Such a strip is indicated at 3U and is adapted to span the open bottom and to be connected to the bottom edges of the end walls I'I and I8 between the side walls IS of the container. The ends of the strip 33 may be connected to the bottom edges of the end walls I'I and I8 in any suitable manner, but in the embodiment illustrated, the ends of the strip are formed with keyhole slots 3I which are adapted to be readily detachably engaged with headed studs 32 fixed to the bottom edges of the end walls Il and I8. Thus, it is apparent that a strip 38 of any suitable material, whether used as a partial closure for the bottom,-cr as means for assisting in a coating step for the edges I2, is readily securable across the open bottom and may be quickly attached to and/or removed therefrom.

While I have shown and described what is now thought to be a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that the same is susceptible of other forms and expressions. Consequently, I do not limit myself to the precise structures shown and described hereinabove except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In a holder for a plurality of character elements for a composing machine, an elongated open bottom container having laterally spaced side walls, end Walls secured to and extending between the ends of the side walls, and a top wall extending between and secured to the upper ends of the side walls and end walls, the character elements being adapted to be positioned transversely between the side walls in sidewise engagement with each other and with one of said end walls, means extending longitudinally between the other end wall and the adjacent character element and arranged to hold the elements in sidewise engagement with each other and said one 4end wall, a longitudinally elongated strip narrower than said container and extending along the open bottom of the container for engaging limited portions of the bottom edges of the character elements for holding the same in place in the container, said strip being laterally spaced from the side walls, the bottom ends of said end walls having means detachably engageable with end portions of said strip for mounting the strip in place against the bottom ends of said side walls.

2. In a holder for a plurality of character elements for a composing machine, an elongated open bottom container having laterally spaced side walls, end walls secured to and extending between the ends of the side walls, and a top wall extending between and secured to the upper ends of the side walls and end walls, the character elements being adapted to be positioned transversely between the side walls in sidewise engagement with each other and with one of said end walls, means extending longitudinally between the other end wall and the adjacent char- 5 acter element and arranged to hold the elements in sidewise engagement Iwith each other and said one end wall, a longitudinally elongated strip narrower than said container and extending along the open bottom of the container for engaging limited portions of the bottom edges of the character elements for holding the same in place in the container, said strip being laterally spaced from the side walls, the bottom ends of said end Walls having means detachably engageable with end portions of said strip for mounting the strip in place against the bottom ends of said side Walls, and a handle including a rod extending along ,and spaced above the top Wall and having end portions connected to said end walls for carrying the container with its open bottom facing downwardly.

FREDERICK F. SIMMONS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 459,530 Chalmers et al. Sept. 15, 1891 499,291 Gury June 13, 1893 384,434 Wolgamott Apr. 14, 1908 1,394,392 Zavagno Oct. 18, 1921 1,499,575 Glaudel July 1, 1924 1,666,044 Danziger Apr. 10, 1928 1,936,826 Butts Nov. 28, 1933 2,127,607 Levow Aug. 23, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 274,858 Italy June 4, 1930 

